RocketQueen88 Reviews

Titanic (1997)

Like greeting an old friend

[10/10 · 3 April 2024]

No matter how many times I watch this it's like being with an old friend. Even if it's on Television I can tune in at any point and enjoy the ride.

The acting, casting and costumes are implacable. Every inch of set design has been thought out (we will excuse the shots of the upper deck on the bow during the sunset shots).

The film doesn't age and I would despise a remake. All aspects that Cameron has put in place just work. The sumptuous legendary Titanic with all its complex characters and intertwining stories of class struggle and inequality whilst precariously depicting real people in a real tragic episode. The soundtrack alone is hauntingly beautiful and conjures up images from the film in one's head wherever they may be.

Titanic will forever linger in the mind and as every April comes around the films tragedy is paralleled by the reality of the sinking. A beautiful piece of celluloid that has enriched my life and makes me weep each and everytime I see it (at least 4 times a year).

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)

Matt Smith is the Mr Collins we Deserve

[7/10 · 1 March 2024]

A delightful hybrid of comedy, horror and period drama. It should work but it very much does all helped along by a great cast. In particular I was enthralled by Matt Smiths performance. From the novel and subsequent serial dramas and films Mr Collins has always been a favourite of mine but this adaptation sees him brilliantly cast.

A fine way of having genres cross and viewers who wouldn't choose a love story themed period drama to step out of their comfort zone and potentially into the twilight zone of zombie period drama. Austen's work is obviously heavily watered down but there are genuine flashes from the text embedded.

Beckham (2023)

Portrait of a perfectionist

[10/10 · 6 October 2023]

From the outside David Beckham may seem like a talented sportsman who shot to fame with good looks and famous wife. This is the story of a young boy who was dedicated to football and through his dedication and practice supported by loving parents achieved what others can only dream of.

I grew up with David on my TV screen and Victoria on my cassette player but this tells the story of a man out for perfection, approval and happiness at all costs. It shows the hurdles you need to overcome to be the best. After watching I have new found respect for Victoria and can sympathise with her as she sees the boy she loves grow to a man who had something to prove. After watching I genuinely think he wouldn't be half the man he is today with such a glittering career nor have such a loving family if she hadn't stuck by him and supported his decisions. Its a story about him but ultimately about how he was made by a loving mother, compulsive father and accommodating wife. The talent was there but the people in his life enabled it. Really enjoyed, especially the small parts with his kids and him at home. Would like to see a Spice Girls documentary next.

Bring It on: Fight to the Finish (2009 Video)

Toxic

[1/10 · 1 August 2023]

I hated this film. I love the bring it on franchise but this was appalling.

I put it on for me and my daughter to watch, it was not a feel good girly movie. So much girl on girl hate, body shaming, blatant racial slurs, poverty shaming and racial stereotyping. I felt awful showing this to a young impressionable girl.

The story its self was flat and just plain nasty. No lovable characters or redeeming plot twist. The actors weren't terrible but I wonder how they felt churning out racial surr one after another.

This film is of its time and wouldn't be made in such a way today. This film depicts Latino women as 'loco' angry and violent and exacerbates white privilege. Avoid!

Elizabeth R (1971)

A master class in acting but terrible scenography

[8/10 · 5 April 2023]

Superb and very historically accurate. The actors really nailed their roles. A sign of the times when acting was real acting. The only thing that was a very major let down was everything bar the acting and of course the vast and accurate amount of costume design. Right down to the colours and stitching, a historical masterpiece. Rje sets however are shoddy. Each time a door is opened and closed the whole set shakes. The same set seems to be reused over and over in different fragments. Elizabeth seems to sit in an Oak clad prison throughout. It was the lighting that got me the most. There are no candles or candelabra but instead glaring white light from vast overhead rigs. In most scenes you can see shadows cast and dewy sweat on the actors foreheads. Each scene seemed to be subject to harsh white overhead or side lightning. This did distract me somewhat.

Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)

Stella cast but too Disney?

[8/10 · 4 October 2022]

On first watching the 1993 original Hocus Pocus at the age of 5 my tiny mind was blown. How could the opening Disney logo lead me into a film that would play on my fears and give me chills for years to come. STRIP HIM OF HIS BABY FAT!

I loved every spooky moment of it! This film became the essence of Halloween to me, so naturally I was waiting for the sequel. It finally came! After many fake articles and photoshoped posters...it finally came. The Sanderson witches rose again from the depths of hell....or Satan's living room.

I enjoyed the film with my daughter who has also learnt to tolerate the first as a Halloween tradition in our house. We enjoyed and celebrated the Sanderson sisters return. However it does seem that Disney has diluted down the humor and horror.

There were no zippy one liners loaded with adult humor, no bite with the sting of horror and most importantly no luring of children! It was vert 21st century Disney.

The first film was a grower because it was seen as too dark for Disney. This was too "Disney".

I was lead into a false sense of security by the opening and the brilliant portrayal of the young Sanderson Sisters, by far the best bit of the film and exquisitely cast and acted! (thought more would come of the reverends character.....alas)

The 3 retuning witches should be praised for their performances, as should Doug Jones. They slithered back into character like a second skin but the writing let them down. It felt like a one night cabaret special in Salem Town.

It pains me to write this as Hocus Pocus was, and is my ultimate Halloween movie. I should love to see a third and final film with all original cast (even Thackery Bink thou mangey feline)my little 5 year old heart will rest easy after.

In conclusion a tidy little film but not the retribution the Sanderson sisters deserved but cudos to the cast for carrying out the dreadful script. Fingers crossed the Sanderson sisters will get to suck the lives out of all the children of Salem before its curtains and they cease to exist before the cast turn to dust.

The Beguiled (2017)

Beguiling

[8/10 · 9 May 2022]

It's a slow burn but supported with a talented cast, beautiful Cinematography and a realistic script it comes to life. I'm no big fan of Sophia's work but found this engaging, atmospheric and in some scenes heart stopping. A triumph visually and contextually. It beguiled me for sure.

Spencer (2021)

Desperately Sad

[7/10 · 27 April 2022]

I felt desperately sad watching this. I've seen many documentaries, films and series about Diana's life and this reinforced my opinions of her sad situation. I don't think Kristen was right for the role but I admire her efforts and the accent. I wept for Diana as I watched her unravel, proving that although I felt she was misscast she brought her all to the picture.

Boiling Point (I) (2021)

Heart thumping

[9/10 · 8 April 2022]

This perfectly captured the fast paced life of a restaurant, although it did trigger horrendous PTSD. Whilst watching I did feel the adrenaline rush of being in this profession. A great triumph that left me knackered and feeling like I had done a full service at the pass.

Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman (2021)

Please stop!

[2/10 · 22 January 2022]

I have been fascinated about Bundy for years, long before the plethora of films and documentaries. I am sick of these cheap and poorly thought out films. This is especially terrible as it tries so hard to be credible with its cast. I feel the cast deserved a better plot and a more fleshed out view on Bundy and his crimes. This is a very cardboard view of him, he really comes across as a boogeyman, an entity. He was a man that did bad things. This film doesn't go into his character or personal life. It doesn't reveal him as the real charismatic evil he was. The truth is far scarier than this depiction.

Scarborough (2019)

It's grim up north!

[1/10 · 11 September 2021]

I live in a seaside town not unlike Scarborough and I can honestly say this could have been so much better. It is bland, boring and chocked full of terrible acting. There was so much scope for storylines full of character, love, comedy and sorrow this fell so terribly short. Catherine Tyldesley has a face like a slapped bum in most scenes and Jason Manford is desperate to prove himself as not just a 1 trick pony. Only saving grace is Jake and the scathing comments from Stephanie.

Bundy and the Green River Killer (2019)

Embarrassing to watch

[1/10 · 17 March 2021]

Wow! I have seen some low budget stuff over the years and even made some myself but this is something else. It was all blatantly filmed in the UK with British radiators and sockets in full view. There is blatant disregard for the concept of time and fact. It was all modern not 70s and 80s, occasionally there would be a close up on a 70s mug and that would be it...and who cast Pee Wee Herman as Bundy? I also couldn't understand why they didn't age the actors for the 2001 sequence.